Clarification on Aldi and Trader Joe's
Kari and Theo Albrecht started the business in 1946 when they took over their Mothers store. In 1960 the brothers could not agree on selling tobacco products, so Theo took over the stores in the northern part of Germany (Aldi Nord) and Kari the southern (Aldi Sud). They have been independent of each other since 1962 when they changed the name to ALDI (Albrecht Discount). Theo bought Trader Joes in 1979, only 2 years after it was founded. As both businesses expanded outside of Germany, the store names were slightly different for each country and the 2 brothers did not compete against each other except in the US.
After the 2 brothers retired and/or died the businesses were inherited by members of the Albrecht families. Some of them own shares in both Aldi Nord (Aldi Einkauf GmbH & Co.) and Aldi Sud (ALDI SÜD Dienstleistungs-SE & Co). Control, financially and legally of the 2 businesses have been separate since 1966. Some family members have ownership in both businesses, but not all of them. The family members are shareholders as opposed to owners.
The 2 businesses sometimes use the same vendors that supply product for them, but with separate brand names. Both businesses require that the vendor's info is not revealed.
